Milo’s Dog Says Moo!
Catalina Echeverri
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Milo, the narrator is celebrating his seventh birthday and he’s super-excited. We join him and other family members as they visit Waggy Tail Dogs Home to select Milo’s longed-for pet. Despite his parents’ reservations, there’s no doubt in Milo’s mind which dog it will be that accompanies them home.

Once through the front door, Beans begins to make himself familiar with his new surroundings showing a distinct preference for vegetarian fare.
Dog lessons prove something of a challenge for both Milo and Beans …

and the latter certainly doesn’t appear to be exhibiting the usual canine characteristics like bone chewing and cat chasing. And as for barking well …

However, the one thing beans excels at is increasing in size and before long, he needs new accommodation. Even this though, cannot contain the voracious eater and after just one night in his new abode, Beans has made a spectacular exit …

seemingly never to be found again.

But could that training be about to pay off after all …

Milo and his family’s failure to notice the difference between a dog and a calf is the key to the reader’s enjoyment of this wonderful story. As with all good jokes, it’s the way you tell them that counts for most. Here, Catalina Echeverri’s text is the ‘straight man’ so to speak giving hardly a hint that anything is amiss. In the know young listeners though will spot what’s really going on in her deliciously playful illustrations and will revel in recognizing Beans’ true identity from the outset.

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